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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers fans are loving beaming star Djeidi Gassama's post match interview as they say ‘new favourite unlocked'
The winger also revealed all on his botched knee slide! STEP ON THE GASS Rangers fans are loving beaming star Djeidi Gassama's post match interview as they say 'new favourite unlocked' DJEIDI GASSAMA announced himself as a Rangers player with a stunning goal to help down Panathinaikos. And the new Ibrox hero's post match interview has made him even MORE of a fans' favourite already. Advertisement 5 Djeidi Gassama blasted Rangers into a 2-0 lead at Ibrox Credit: Getty 5 His celebration didn't quite go to plan! Credit: Getty 5 Gassama spoke to Rangers TV after the game Credit: RANGERS TV 5 The Light Blues new boy Credit: RANGERS TV In Russell Martin's first competitive game as Rangers boss, the Light Blues beat Panathinaikos 2-0 at Ibrox to take control of their Champions League second qualifying round tie. The Gers had goalkeeper Jack Butland to thank for the game still being goalless by the time they look the lead with the No1 pulling off a string of superb stops. 18-year old Findlay Curtis fired home a stunning opener early in the second half before Gassama's moment of magic sealed the win, the other side of Giorgos Vagiannidis' red card. Barely a few minutes after being introduced from the bench, Gassama showed superb pace and footwork before blasting the ball home from all of 20 yards to send Ibrox wild. Advertisement It was an incredible introduction to life at the Gers for the 21-year old winger who joined from Sheffield Wednesday just over a week ago. Gassama was given a huge ovation when he came on as a substitute and it's likely the next one from the Light Blues fans will be even greater. That's because Gassama has already made himself a firm fans' favourite - and not only because of his stunning strike. The former PSG youngster spoke to Rangers TV after the game and the Gers fans were absolutely loving his interview. Advertisement Gassama was clearly buzzing from his goal, smiling from ear to ear throughout his entire interview - also gleefully exclaiming "the stadium is massive!" Delighted Gassama said: "(It was) massive. Rangers transfer special assesses whether Conor Coady deal is OFF, if Hamza Igamane will leave and when the Gers can expect more incomings "I'm very, very, very happy to play my first minutes at Ibrox, great fans, great stadium - the stadium is massive!" He begins to then slip into speaking in his native language, chuckling as he goes "sorry, I speak French!" Advertisement Picking up where he left off, he adds: "What a beginning for me and for the club as well." Gassama then revealed exactly what Russell Martin told him when sending him onto the pitch for the frist time at Ibrox. He added: "Before I come on, the gaffer said stay wide and when you have the ball go one v one and do your think that you do before. "When I received the ball, I got inside and I saw the keeper." Advertisement Curtis' superb opening goal was followed by wild scenes, with the winger doing a classic knee slide as part of his celebrations. Gassama seemed to like what he saw, and attempted to replicate the celebrations. However, it didn't quite to go to plan, with the French youth international hitting his knees on the ground and tumbling over. Asked about his celebration, Gassama burst out laughing, explaining: "Findlay scored a good goal as well and he slide good -and I want to do the same!" Advertisement Gassama went on to praise his teammates for welcoming to the club and insisted he's now ready to play every game. Rangers fans watching the interview were absolutely loving their new wide man. 5 And loads of them flocked to the comments section to say exactly that! Advertisement One Rangers fan wrote: "Love this lad already." A second said: "I love him already." A third added: "What a human being as well." A fourth commented: "Love this wee boy already." Advertisement Another wrote: "This lad will be special." While another Gers fan said: "I'm going to love him and he'll leave me heartbroken." A further comment read: "He's my new favourite already." While another said: "New season, new favourite unlocked." Advertisement Many Sheffield Wednesday fans were gutted to see Gassama leave and a few of them were in the comments too. One simply said: "Miss him already." Rangers face Panathinaikos in the second leg of the qualifying tie next Wednesday. The winners will advance to face Servette or Viktoria Plzen in the third qualifying round, while the losing team will drop into the Europa League qualifiers instead. Advertisement Swiss outfit Servette have the advantage after a 1-0 win away in Plzen. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
South Wales Guardian
8 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Findlay Curtis puts Rangers ahead in Panathinaikos Champions League qualifier
After a decent start from the home side in the first leg of Tuesday night's Champions League second-round qualifier, the Greek outfit bossed the rest of the half and should have been ahead. However, in the 52nd minute, 19-year-old winger Findlay Curtis opened the scoring with a terrific finish from outside the box, his first goal for the Govan club. Just six minutes later, Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis was shown a second yellow card from Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas for a foul on Curtis. There was more joy for the Gers supporters when debutant Djeidi Gassama, the 21-year-old winger signed from Sheffield Wednesday, added a second with a thunderous strike in the 78th minute. Gassama had only been on the pitch a few minutes to give the hosts a further advantage ahead of the return game in Athens next week. Under new ownership of a US-based consortium, there is a sense of the unknown about the Govan club's future but it was a positive start. Panathinaikos boss Rui Vitoria admitted scant knowledge of the Light Blues in his pre-match media conference. However, of the seven new Rangers recruits, only defenders Nasser Djiga and Max Aarons and midfielder Joe Rothwell started the game along with Curtis on the left, while Kieran Dowell – on loan at Birmingham in the second half of last season – started on the right. With Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers not up to speed and on the bench, Brazilian striker Danilo led the line. A packed Ibrox watched the home side start with the pace and purpose but it was the visitors who almost stole into the lead in the ninth minute with Gers goalkeeper Jack Butland making a fine save from Fecundo Pellistri following a cut-back, before Filip Duricic struck the outside of the post from the rebound. Minutes later, Butland made a terrific save from Erik Palmer-Brown's shot from 14 yards and more confidence ebbed away from Rangers and their fans. However, in the 37th minute, a long-range effort from midfielder Mohamed Diomande drew a decent save from visiting goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski before Danilo's volley was deflected wide for a corner, which came to nothing. Surprisingly, Martin kept his side unchanged for the start of the second half and again Butland came to the rescue, making a crucial one-handed save from Duricic. Then, out of the blue, Rangers struck on the break. Curtis took the ball from midfielder Nicolas Raskin, cut inside and curled a shot from 25 yards past Dragowski and into the far corner of the net. The night became even better for revived Rangers when Vagiannidis, who was booked for diving in the first half, was sent packing after hauling down Curtis. Panathinaikos retained a threat on the break but Dragowski made two great saves from Raskin in quick succession to keep his side in the game, before another effort from Curtis was blocked by midfielder Nemanja Maksimovic. In the 75th minute, Danilo, Curtis and Dowell were replaced by Dessers, Igamane and Gassama, who had the crowd out of their seats again and cheering when he fired in from 20 yards to give the Light Blues a cushion for the second leg next Wednesday.
North Wales Chronicle
8 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Russell Martin expects improvement after opening win with Rangers
The Light Blues struggled in the first leg of the Champions League second round qualifier against the Greek outfit until 19-year-old winger Findlay Curtis opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with a terrific finish from outside the box, his first goal for the Govan club. Just six minutes later Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis picked up a second yellow card from Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas for a foul on Curtis before Gers debutant Djeidi Gassama, the 21-year-old winger signed from Sheffield Wednesday, added a second minutes after coming off the bench to give a further advantage ahead of the return game in Athens. After a victory in his first competitive game as Gers boss, Martin said: 'I'm very happy that we won. And I think we'll be much better for it. 'We had a few tough moments early in the first half – after a good start actually – then a few sticky moments because we were playing against a really good team, good players, good coach. Been together a while, longer than us, for sure. 'So I was really proud and really pleased with the players, the way they got through it, and also with the crowd, the way they stuck with a team through a few difficult moments was incredible. So I think as a group, we'll be much better for tonight. 'I think Findlay probably embodied us really. First half, he was a bit tense. He was receiving too many balls in positions we don't want him to. 'But he's so willing, he has such brilliant character and mentality and it reflected the rest of the group as well. 'They got through that. And at half-time it was just about some real simple information and just to get the guys to relax and to do the work that we've done and to take a bit more care with the ball. 'So when we did that, I thought they were great. We needed Jack (Butland) a couple of times, big moments in the first half, he made a couple of brilliant saves. 'So, yeah, it's half-time. We have to respect that we're playing against a really good team and they're going to be ready next week and we have to be even better than we were tonight and we will be. It's so early on, and we will improve from tonight.'
South Wales Guardian
8 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Russell Martin expects improvement after opening win with Rangers
The Light Blues struggled in the first leg of the Champions League second round qualifier against the Greek outfit until 19-year-old winger Findlay Curtis opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with a terrific finish from outside the box, his first goal for the Govan club. Just six minutes later Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis picked up a second yellow card from Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas for a foul on Curtis before Gers debutant Djeidi Gassama, the 21-year-old winger signed from Sheffield Wednesday, added a second minutes after coming off the bench to give a further advantage ahead of the return game in Athens. After a victory in his first competitive game as Gers boss, Martin said: 'I'm very happy that we won. And I think we'll be much better for it. 'We had a few tough moments early in the first half – after a good start actually – then a few sticky moments because we were playing against a really good team, good players, good coach. Been together a while, longer than us, for sure. 'So I was really proud and really pleased with the players, the way they got through it, and also with the crowd, the way they stuck with a team through a few difficult moments was incredible. So I think as a group, we'll be much better for tonight. 'I think Findlay probably embodied us really. First half, he was a bit tense. He was receiving too many balls in positions we don't want him to. 'But he's so willing, he has such brilliant character and mentality and it reflected the rest of the group as well. 'They got through that. And at half-time it was just about some real simple information and just to get the guys to relax and to do the work that we've done and to take a bit more care with the ball. 'So when we did that, I thought they were great. We needed Jack (Butland) a couple of times, big moments in the first half, he made a couple of brilliant saves. 'So, yeah, it's half-time. We have to respect that we're playing against a really good team and they're going to be ready next week and we have to be even better than we were tonight and we will be. It's so early on, and we will improve from tonight.'
Rhyl Journal
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Russell Martin expects improvement after opening win with Rangers
The Light Blues struggled in the first leg of the Champions League second round qualifier against the Greek outfit until 19-year-old winger Findlay Curtis opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with a terrific finish from outside the box, his first goal for the Govan club. Just six minutes later Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis picked up a second yellow card from Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas for a foul on Curtis before Gers debutant Djeidi Gassama, the 21-year-old winger signed from Sheffield Wednesday, added a second minutes after coming off the bench to give a further advantage ahead of the return game in Athens. After a victory in his first competitive game as Gers boss, Martin said: 'I'm very happy that we won. And I think we'll be much better for it. 'We had a few tough moments early in the first half – after a good start actually – then a few sticky moments because we were playing against a really good team, good players, good coach. Been together a while, longer than us, for sure. 'So I was really proud and really pleased with the players, the way they got through it, and also with the crowd, the way they stuck with a team through a few difficult moments was incredible. So I think as a group, we'll be much better for tonight. 'I think Findlay probably embodied us really. First half, he was a bit tense. He was receiving too many balls in positions we don't want him to. 'But he's so willing, he has such brilliant character and mentality and it reflected the rest of the group as well. 'They got through that. And at half-time it was just about some real simple information and just to get the guys to relax and to do the work that we've done and to take a bit more care with the ball. 'So when we did that, I thought they were great. We needed Jack (Butland) a couple of times, big moments in the first half, he made a couple of brilliant saves. 'So, yeah, it's half-time. We have to respect that we're playing against a really good team and they're going to be ready next week and we have to be even better than we were tonight and we will be. It's so early on, and we will improve from tonight.'
